Mass-shooting in Prague, Czech Republic.
On 21 December 2023, more than 15 people, including the perpetrator, David K. Speaking, and his father, were killed in a mass shooting at the Faculty of Arts, Charles University on Jan Palach Square in central Prague, Czech Republic. 25 more were injured, nine of them seriously. Police arrived and closed off a large area surrounding the scene of the shooting. As police arrived, the gunman killed himself and the university building was evacuated. Police reported that the perpetrator's father was found dead earlier in the day, before the shooting began.
The Czech Interior Minister Vít Rakušan has stated that there were no other shooters, but has urged everyone to cooperate with police. Prime Minister Petr Fiala canceled his scheduled events in Olomouc and headed to Prague shortly after the shooting. The Czech President Petr Pavel posted to X (formerly Twitter) his condolences to the family and friends of the victims and as well as his shock over the shooting.
Rakušan has said investigators do not suspect a link to extremism or other ideologies.
According to Pavel Nedoma, director of the nearby Rudolfinum Gallery, a man was seen on a balcony firing toward the Mánes Bridge, over the Vltava River. Police later searched the square and balcony for explosives.
The New York Times reported that the shots came from the roof of the faculty of arts building of Charles University.
A police officer with Interpol Prague stated that the perpetrator was a 24-year-old student from Kladno, a city 24km (13mi) outside of Prague. He was studying world history. It is thought that the shooter was inspired from other mass shootings from Russia.
Related events
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Persons
Name | ||
---|---|---|
1 | David Kozák | |
2 | Staņislavs Kozāks |